BGH visitors given repeat prescription – stay away

NHS BORDERS has reiterated that visitors to the hospital in general are ‘strongly discouraged’ from visiting as the norovirus outbreak continues.

It is now over a month since the first confirmed cases were found at the BGH.

The latest position is that wards 10 and 12 are both closed to new admissions because of confirmed cases of the bug. Two bays in ward seven are closed due to patients showing gastro-intestinal symptoms.

It is just under a fortnight since the last affected patient in Ward 10, the Department for the Elderly ward, was given the all clear, with the ward having been closed in all, or in part, since early January due to norovirus cases.

An NHS Borders spokesperson said: “All visitors are discouraged at this time and until further notice. General advice is to stay away from the hospital if you or anyone in your family has experienced symptoms of diarrhoea and/or vomiting in the past 48 hours.

“This is especially important for children as they can be badly affected by norovirus. Parents should ensure children avoid visiting the Borders General Hospital unless the child is attending an outpatient appointment or accident and emergency.”

They added: “If you are visiting please limit numbers to two visitors per patient and use the hand gel dispensers on entering and leaving the wards. Hand washing with soap and water should be performed on leaving an affected ward.”

According to Health Protection Scotland (HPS) figures, more than 136 confirmed cases of noro- virus have been reported in hospitals across the country between January 1 and 26.

Seven wards at the BGH have been affected in whole or in part by norovirus or gastro-intestinal symptoms.